Thursday, 18 December 2014

The Green Party will put forward its first-ever parliamentary candidate for Tatton in 2015, challenging sitting Conservative Chancellor George Osborne.

The ‘Green Surge’ has seen a 100% rise in Green Party membership in England and Wales since the start of the year and the party is putting forward more candidates than ever before.

Tina-Louise Rothery - a prominent campaigner in the North West anti-fracking movement - joined the Green Party two years ago.

She says: “The problems with our current situation appear less to do with the economy and far more to do with the way that economy is managed and whom it does - and doesn’t - benefit.

“Corporate interests have an unhealthy influence on decisions made in Westminster. Look at the planned spending on huge projects like HS2 (due to end Wilmslow’s direct London service) instead of improvements to existing rail - including the Mid-Cheshire line - that would bring greater benefit to the local population; or the way they insist on pursuing short-term, risky energy solutions that will bring no benefits on prices or security for UK residents.

“Time and again the UK electorate watches the predictable cycle of political activity in the run up to an election; promises being made that we know will be broken. Each election leaves us disappointed and for too long, the choice on the ballot paper has been limited to a very similar line-up.

“The priorities, concerns and challenges in our everyday lives are not reflected in the policies of the current government and haven’t been for as long as I can remember. Looking at the grey suits and behaviour in the House of Commons is like looking back in time to a fossilised place that just isn’t part of the ‘real world’ anymore.”

Tina-Louise Rothery joined the Green Party “because unlike other parties, it is not funded by big business and is not influenced, swayed, encouraged or bullied by corporate interests and because we are focused on the issues that matter; the preservation of our NHS, the integrity of our education, clean affordable energy, getting the railways back into public ownership, fair taxation, action to tackle air pollution and refusing the advance of dangerous industries.”

“Unlike the vast majority of those in politics who claim to represent the residents of the UK, I do not come from a background that has groomed me for the government we know today – and I believe this to be a distinct advantage.”

Sharing this OPEN LETTER from Lisa Bower who was at the helm of Blackpool & Fylde College - Students' Union until this year - in response to announcement today regarding new status as FRACKING COLLEGE:------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Last year at Blackpool & the Fylde College SU, our focus was to create a Students’ Union that was relevant to our local area; addressing student concerns and promoting involvement within the community. We had a very successful year doing this through environmental and sustainable activities as well as charity work. Throughout the year, we also questioned the college about any involvement with Cuadrilla, the position taken on fracking and if any funds were received. The Students’ Union would not take a stance until it felt that the student body had all relevant information - a stance that left me open to a witch hunt for a short while.

We were assured that no stance for, or against fracking had been taken at that point. It was clearly a topical issue and it was expressed that the student body did not really understand all of the issues on either side and that many were fearful to express an opinion at all.

A fracking debate was then to be held at the college, arranged by the 14-19 Directorate, for students to attend. As I understand it, Cuadrilla refused to enter into the debate if Tina Rothery (local anti-fracking campaigner) was present. This was disconcerting, as Tina has represented the movement as an expert activist in the House of Lords and would therefore, along with relevant industry experts, have been ideal opposite Cuadrilla’s own industry experts. She agreed to stay away from the debate in order that it at least proceed. In the end, the debate never took place.

It is with this in mind, the news of B&FC becoming a “national fracking college” has disturbed me deeply and I feel the flux of emails that have already started to reach the Students’ Union is only the beginning. It beggars belief that whilst Fylde Council voted against Cuadrilla planning proposals for sites and Lancashire postponed decisions, requiring more information the College would not. The Councils are listening to the community outcries and responding, albeit slowly. To then transform the focus of a main educational establishment to a process that may hold risk for the local environment, without consulting communities or even the students and staff who have real future investment locally, is disgusting when you consider that the College is publicly funded and should firstly answer to the local public and not to the gilt purse strings waved in its direction.

The energy industry is important, and having a wide range of engineering skills that can support traditional fossil fuel processes as well as the development of renewable sources is central to that industry. But fracking is a questionable process at best - surely the fact that it threatens our most basic need, water, should be enough to pause any commitment to this industry while proper discussion takes place.

The College promotes partnership, an agreement between the institution and its students and because the new HE President isn’t currently in post, I feel the need to speak up. I want to ask B&FC a favour in the spirit of critical partnership and friendship: I feel I have the right after working voluntarily last year to ensure a genuine partnership was being established. I am begging the College to not forget its end of the deal. To not pursue this route any further until information has been freely shared and students and the local community have been able to participate in a dialogue. Please don't forget the reason you exist - it is to educate students to make positive contributions once they leave education. How positive will that contribution be if that education results in the poisoning of the local area, in illness caused by contamination of our water supplies and the degradation of our local geological infrastructures.

Sunday, 2 November 2014

Life is about to undergo some pretty hefty changes... leave the job at the hotel at the end of November and headed towards 'hustings' to see if I might run as an MP for the Green Party. It's all a bit like free-falling as there are no clear signposts at this stage.. still, not like I haven't been here before (staying still is rare) so not overly vexed.

The other aspect of my life (activism) stays stable as long as the situation we live in, doesn't - so the seeking to prevent fracking and claw back democracy will remain the priority regardless.

Thinking I'll get back into the world of communications and hoping I can craft it to be freelance enough to feed me whilst providing enough flexibility and free time to fit in the activism and (perhaps) politics.

This week I was told a poem I had written had come second in the Pendle War Poetry 2014 competition and would be included in an Anthology - which is lovely, I get so little time for writing it at the moment. The entry was called Not in my Name and is at the end of this post. Which brings me to this that resulted from the competition...

This link ...is to Murmurings - a little collection of poems I've written since 2004 that is available as a PDF download - although I have offered the opportunity for purchase (nourishing my dwindling income) - I am more than happy to provide it free. I bypassed go-between sites for publishing and selling and stubbornly found the ingredients to attach the thing to my Blog - which made me aware that I could do with some technical and graphics skills - it all took so long!! Expect imperfection and you won't be disappointed.

NOT IN MY NAME...Threats never uttered are whispered verbatim,
creating fear of a hypothetical invasion,
as media strings play methodical hype,
orchestrating the public, to conform to type.

Spoon fed with fear on news laden,
heaped with visual connotations,
of danger lurking at our doors,
of certain death for those who ignore,
the hypothesis laid down as fact,
the incessant chitter, incessant chat,
gets us addicted to leader's projection,
junkies now for his brand of protection.

So our boys are pushed up to the wire,
shot with propoganda so they will not tire,
of protecting their families at home,
from evil doers looking to dethrone,
the powers that watch over us…
…the nervous dependent populous.

We must be saved from the supposed threat.
We must invade the terrorist nest.
We must kill the alien foe.
We must,
we must,
we must overthrow.

But first we must trust the source of the truths,
before we feed the war, any more youths.
Before the troops, lose one more brave soul.
Before the powers, reach any more goals.
Before Libya and Syria,
Iran and North Korea,
fall foul of our leaders' dictates of behaviour -
refuse to appreciate us as their savior.

Before we beat them into submission,
maybe we could establish just whose permission,
was granted before we shed so much blood,
before a trickle was blasted into a flood.

Before the next purple-tipped finger is crushed,
we must realise that "we the people" have been hushed,
for too long now, kept in our place,
as fellow humans are easily erased,
by bold leaders brandishing our names,
claiming we desired all of this shame.

The 9-day occupation of Parliament Square by peaceful pro-democracy protesters enters its final weekend with a packed two-day programme of speakers and discussions. The aim of the debates is to agree specific objectives and a strategy for escalating the campaign.

Numbers have grown over the course of the occupation despite up to 40 arrests and a massively disproportionate - and at times unnecessarily violent - policing operation for what, after all, is a peaceful pro-democracy protest.

Speakers this weekend include:

Michael Meacher MP (Labour Party) on "The State We Need"

Donnachadh McCarthy (whistle-blowing Liberal Democrat and author of newly published The Prostitute State) on "Why We Need A 21st Century Reform Act"

Jolyon Rubinstein (presenter of BBC3's "The Revolution Will Be Televised") on "Why We Need a Magna Carter 2.0"

Occupier John Sinha said: "This weekend is dedicated to an open democratic process where we will decide what we want and how we move forward with our movement for real democracy. Our central message - that the authorities have tried to crush - is that our democracy is not working for the 99% and is in need of urgent radical reform."

The debates this week have attracted celebrities like Russell Brand, Ken Loach and Vivienne Westwood as well as speakers from many supporting civil society groups including Friends of the Earth, UK Uncut, World Development Movement, War on Want, Fuel Poverty Action, Disabled People Against the Cuts, Defend the Right to Protest, Stop the War, Left Unity, OurNHS, Stroud Against the Cuts, New Economics Foundation, Robin Hood Tax, Green New Deal Group, Save Lewisham Hospital and One Million Climate Jobs.

Occupier George Barda said:

"There are clear messages that unite this movement. First we need a Real Democracy, rather than the sham politics of powerful undemocratic economic interests that fund all the major parties. Second, there is an alternative. We need a massive ecological investment programme that revitalises local economies and restores vibrant communities. This will only happen if more of us remember our power as citizens, and organise to transform the national conversation, so we can elect real representatives that could offer real alternatives to the gush-up of money and political power, and an unstable unsustainable economy built on bubbles. Join us."

Quotes from speakers throughout the week:

Natalie Bennett (Green Party) noted that we haven't seen any improvement in democracy for 100 years:

"The last real reform was in 1918, which was women getting the vote. What we're calling for is a People's Constitutional Convention where people from across Britain draw up a new constitution for Britain."

John McDonnell MP (Labour Party) said:

"People are waking up to the fact that we are not living in a democracy but a kleptocracy. Corporations and rich individuals use their power, their influence and the state to steal from us. Since 2008 people who are rich and the corporations have used the crisis not just to ensure that ordinary people pay for it, but also to shift wealth and power back into their own hands."

Caroline Lucas MP (Green Party) said that the attitude of MPs when it came to serious issues was sometimes "childish, ridiculous and irresponsible":

"We have a crisis in our democracy. The fact that serious issues like the climate crisis or alternatives to austerity aren't being debated over there [in Parliament] I think is a shame on the whole political system. We have an electoral system that is precisely designed to keep out alternative voices and to make sure that essentially the big parties have a cartel and a monopoly over poltical debate. We need a fairer voting system and a genuine system of recall for MPs."

Asad Rehman (Friends of the Earth) noted how David Cameron was representing the interests of corporations' interests rather than the public interest in the negotiations over the EU climate and energy package this week:

"They force people with disablilities to go through humiliating tests to decide if they can get benefits yet they have no problem handing out millions to big oil and fracking companies."

Melanie Strickland (Occupy Law) outlined how our legal system routinely gives more rights to corporations than to citizens:

"Corporate interests are so embedded into the structure of law that private property interests routinely override fundamental rights, like the right to a healthy environment. The law legitimises the exploitation of our planet and communities, and permits corporations to pollute our bodies. We cannot say no to fracking, no to GM food, no to the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, no to NHS privatisation, or to other abuses. The State has no legitimate authority to permit others to carry out such abuses, nor itself to trade away our fundamental rights as citizens."

John Hilary (Executive Director, War on Want) argued that we must replace unrestrained capitalism with popular sovereignty, common ownership and social production:

"Popular sovereignty means reclaiming and restoring democracy at its roots. You can look to the examples of countries like Iceland or Tunisia or Equador or Bolivia, which have completely re-written constitutions in order to be able to give the people’s aspirations top billing. You can also see it in countries like Venezuala where they have local municipal committees, workplace committees, bringing people in to the democratic space and building from the grassroots. You can see it in the economic policies of restoring power to cooperatives and other collective engagements of people, so that they take control of the economic space as well as the political space."

Friday, 24 October 2014

Was there for the first 30 hours ...and just spent the past 32 hours with inspiring people in Parliament Square - each and every one an honour to know.

‪#‎OccupyDemocracy‬ - a 9-day occupation opposite our Houses of Parliament, brought together determined people active on a range of issues. Due to laws/byLaws/indignant officials using the police as tools to tidy away dissent - banning tents, sleeping bags, sleeping equipment, tarpaulin, guitars, megaphones, dosing and any comforts - this was never going to be a replica of Occupy London in 2011 - this is no-frills Occupy where sleeping is only permitted if in maximum discomfort and no rule makes any sense or seems based on any reason.

We each choose to Occupy for our own reasons and they are as diverse as we are – BUT what unites us is the realisation that each and every reason is a ‘symptom’ of a diseased system of ‘democracy’ and so we stand together against the cause.

My reasons are many......to insist on access to our democratic process in order to be part of the decisions on whether our NHS remains public, on whether tax havens are good for our economy, on whether extreme energy techniques like fracking/CSG etc are what we want powering us and the future, on whether education should be free, if wars are the way to solve international issues, if it was ever prudent to bail-out banks and if there is such a thing as a 'the-people-bail-out", what benefit over the long-term is derived from privatisation of services and how can we ensure that the people who live in this country, are HEARD and responded to on issues - not just every-5-year-box-ticking (from a miniscule and unworthy list of choices).

It has been exhausting BUT very sobering too when you realise that for all the discomfort (and it is pretty extreme) - most of us knew we could come home to beds... and too many don't have that option; enduring this nightly on the streets. This too is a very tragic symptom of the sickness at the heart of our government. I don't know anyone who doesn't want others to be warm, safe and fed - yet our government (acting FOR us) is content to spend on any number of vile, self-serving, profit-driven, risky ventures - yet sees fit to claw back money from those most in need by making access to justice, financially impossible, removing benefits that might have afforded some dignity and peace-of-mind.

Peace of mind... we need this x

*To ALL the incredible Livestreamers keeping the independent coverage going when mainstream ignore us, the online sharers who propel awareness, the key minds and creators of the Occupy Democracy and very much to those who will not sleep well tonight at Parliament Square because they give a damn, thank you

Like symptoms of a vile disease that eats fairness, the list of wrongs to oppose is growing dangerously long:

- fracking and other unconventional energy techniques that put us at risk
- the privatisation of our essential services like the NHS
- the injustice of huge bank bailouts that require austerity to cover them
- the powerful influence of lobbyists and corporate interest over OUR system of government
- the tolerance of tax avoidance when it's big business but absurd penalties and intolerance when it's small
- the blatantly obvious self-interest of those who hold public office but use it for private gain
- the market system that makes financial considerations paramount and tolerates effects like fuel poverty, as mere collateral damage
- the aggressive response to incidents that takes us to war, bypasses diplomacy and make us vulnerable to the reactions of those we attack
- the spin and manipulation of news about all of the above in order to make it so convoluted and confusing, that most are excluded from the truth...

...the disease is in the organ at the heart of our country and it has turned our democracy into a facade that is rotted on the inside. Time to let it know WE are the cure.

Tuesday, 7 October 2014

For the past three years I have often been made to feel like I am a criminal; made to feel that my actions cause fear and that I am not entitled to justice because I made the decision to stop being taken through life according to some warped agenda I have no agreement with... and got active about it.

Because I care about the health and well-being of children, I would not choose energy techniques that take risks with the essentials for their lives - air and water. Therefore I protest and along with lots of others, work really hard to raise awareness about dangerous industries like unconventional energy, in order that we protect the things that matter.

That regular, everyday residents are having to do this

...is ludicrous in itself.

There don't appear to be genuine safeguards - just lobbyists with power/influence/money and a compliant system designed to let them have their way for the sake of 'the economy'. What about the sake of 'the community'? Who in office is genuinely looking out for our well-being as human beings?

Tomorrow the Nanas will be in court for part 2 of an action being taken against us and others who occupied a field. We did this primarily to alert the local community of their proximity to the proposed shale gas site and to raise awareness of the processes and risks involved. For the sake of proceedings, the case names me as the Defendant (a name was needed for the case to proceed WITH our involvement) and the landowner - with a lot of help, financing and encouragement from fracking company Cuadrilla - as the Claimant.

I have never been in this situation before and for a while, I have been a bit scared really; courts and law are serious matters and so much about the process is far beyond my knowledge and understanding. I am having to rely on a legal team I barely know (although their record is good and they seem to have good intent) and more than anything - the warm support by those glorious others also striving to stop fracking from proceeding in the UK.

I say 'have been' scared and I suppose I'm still a bit uncomfortable - but as time is passing and the time is drawing near, I am more determined and angry now. How dare this situation even exist - that a grandmother fulfilling her obligation to care for the generations she has produced, has had to battle her government, the energy industry, Councillors, police, heavily-financed PR/Marketing campaigns and all other manner of obstacles - simply because I have deep concerns about the safety of the air my granddaughter breathes and the water she drinks.

Wading through swathes of manipulated words in witness statements by Cuadrilla-financed individuals who know exactly what they are doing and how to take 'justice' and apply it for profit and example... I conclude that I can't play this game. I don't want to negotiate my way out of anything, I don't care to get off with the least harm and I will not say things just to make it so.

So what's the worst that can happen in court anyway... is it as bad as undrinkable water and air that harms your health? Can it possibly be as bad as a community suffering under the onslaught of this loud, smelly, lit-up, dangerous, intensive industry that is fracking?

No.

They just want to stop residents showing opposition to fracking by making it clear that they have more money, more power and more influence and will use it to sue for tens of thousands I don't have. But money is not a drinkable, breathable thing I can bequeath to future generations - they can have everything I haven't got and then some - I'm saving a future not an income.

“We hope the court will extend the interim injunction against illegal trespass on local farmland. We hope that this action will prevent any recurrence.” Francis Egan, Cuadrilla’s CEO

They also want to stop residents acting to stop the industry from drilling into our communities by making it clear that they have more money, more power and more influence and will use it to have injunctions put in place that prevent anyone acting to prevent their progress. But sites where fracking is planned are places that are part of where we live, our community - and protecting the environment we live in matters more than a ruling that pretends justice - but really only gives it to the few and applies limitations to the many.

The coach starts its journey in Fleetwood at 7:30am tomorrow, picking up here at 8 and then on to Manchester - all seats will be occupied by people I admire, respect and love - so the journey as honourable Nanas will be a joy. Others from this amazing community of activists from all over the place will be at the court too and this means so much more than anyone can imagine... time is the most precious thing we have and it is not easy to make space in an anti-fracking diary! Online too has been so very uplifting as people share the event, post words of support, reveal their understanding and I know... are thinking of us during the case.

Whatever the outcome tomorrow - it can't possibly stop those who know the risks of fracking, from continuing to do everything in their power to ensure it doesn't happen in ANY back yard.

Whatever the outcome tomorrow - it can't possibly take anything from the beautiful unity, determination and optimism we've been gifted in our roles as Nanas, Protectors, Activists, Residents...

Whatever the outcome tomorrow - I'm going home on a coach full of loveliness and that's a joy I wouldn't have any other way.

Monday, 6 October 2014

THIS Wednesday 8th October 2014 our case returns to Manchester High Court to start by 10:15 am. Cuadrilla (the frackers) are supporting the landowner in the case and seek an injunction to keep us off the land that is currently under planning consideration for full-production fracking sites. The injunction if obtained would last up to planning application decisions at which time it will be re-considered. They are aiming to use a named Nana as an example by making her personally liable for tens of thousands in costs.

Named Nana Tina Louise-uk: "There is no point in worrying about all this though because it does not change our obligation to stop fracking - so just need to get on and once sorted - work out how to maximise any gains (ie: public awareness, indignation that residents seeking to protect their community are subject to costs of this magnitude - designed to put off others from standing against fracking and deter further actions.)

"That the Nanas will be together carrying ourselves with the determination and unity we have shown throughout this - is all I personally need to feel alright. Much love and luck to us all xxx"

---------------------------------------If any are available to show court support it would be very deeply appreciated - we aim to arrive by 9:45am at:Manchester High CourtJustice Centre1 Bridge Street WestManchesterGreater ManchesterM60 9DJ

***We will be wearing Yellow & Black - the colours of the anti-fracking community - as we aren't allowed to wear our aprons or other items perceived as 'protest'... we encourage others to do the same - sunflowers too will feature :)

Sunday, 5 October 2014

Wednesday, 1 October 2014

Wrote this when we were first attacking Iraq... so sad that it suits a re-release
.........................................................................................................

"Not in my Name"

Threats never uttered are whispered verbatim,Creating fear of a hypothetical invasion,As media strings play methodical hype,Orchestrating the public, to conform to type.

Spoon fed with fear on news laden,
Heaped with visual connotations,
Of danger lurking at our doors,
Of certain death for those who ignore,
The hypothesis laid down as fact.
The incessant chitter, incessant chat,
Gets us addicted to leader's projection,
Junkies now for his brand of protection.
Dependent and needy,
Craving, hungry, greedy.
Surrounded by blue teeth grinning barbarity,
Sneering, seething images of vulgarity.
So our boys are pushed up to the wire,
Shot with propaganda so they will not tire,
Of protecting their families at home,
From evil doers looking to dethrone,
The powers that watch over us;
The nervous dependent populous.

We must be saved from the supposed threat.
We must invade the terrorist nest.
We must kill the alien foe.
We must,
We must,
We must overthrow.

But first we must trust the source of the truths,
Before we feed the war, any more youths,
Before the troops, lose one more brave soul,
Before the powers, reach any more goals.
Before Libya and Syria,
Iran and North Korea,
Fall foul of our leaders' dictates of behaviour -
Refuse to appreciate us as their saviour,
Before we beat them into submission,
Maybe we could establish just whose permission,
Was granted before we shed so much blood,
Before a trickle was blasted into a flood.
Before the next purple tipped finger is crushed,
We must realise that "we the people" have been hushed,
For too long now, kept in our place,
As fellow humans are easily erased,
By bold leaders brandishing our names,
Claiming we desired all of this shame.

Monday, 29 September 2014

Recorded whilst camping with the Nanas and considering the 3rd anniversary of Occupy London as it approaches and we face so many challenges and threats:

Transcript:

"We did everything legally and lawfully - First of all
we went to the toolbox marked 'Democracy' and said "OK what's available to
us in our community to prevent this from causing harm". So we went through
everything, petitions, objections to planning ... This year we put in 14,000
objection letters ...

But we're fighting this ridiculous PR & marketing
campaign, not just by the industry, but by our own government trying to shove
this down our throats

You only have to look at what our politicians do after they
stop being politicians. And you can tell who they gave the favours to by who
they're working for now.

..you can't talk to people about fixing the system, without
them first being acutely aware that it's broken. Because, like Balcombe - most
people didn't know that it was broken until they had to call on it for help ..
and suddenly when you call on it for help, you realise it's a façade

Make time to be outraged.

I have to do it because if I don't, I leave this mess for my
granddaughter to clean up.

So, get to Parliament Square, get to a local anti-fracking
group, form a group, be a lone protester. Stand outside what annoys you most
and do something, but just do something."

Thursday, 25 September 2014

I have felt a lot like Russell Brand about voting ie: how the hell could I choose a 'best' when I despised and mistrusted the choices? BUT... I have looked at this from all sorts of angles and as far as I can see - there is little chance of changing the system of government into an honest, people-serving body (or scrapping it and starting over), without infesting it with unselfish, good-intentioned people first. Once diseased with people like us - it can be re-formed into a thing that serves our needs; in a transparent and clinical way (not darkly corrupted by self-serving, connected individuals acting for their own agendas).

So for me I am going to put some energy into our system of government - and the only party I have found to support is the Green Party. Not sure if this party changed or if it has only come seriously into view as a result of independent media/internet/social networks etc.? I was genuinely surprised when I discovered the policies of the Green Party - not only in relation to fracking but across the board I find myself in agreement: education, employment, public ownership etc. I also respect this bit: "policies that can only be changed via democratic majority voting at 6 monthly conferences". When we get a party in office based on the promises they made to win votes - they don't then involve us in the decisions they go on to make about the other stuff that happens outside of the policies they mentioned at the start. So we get 5 years of them working without our input - doesn't read like a democracy, feel like one or in any way resemble one.

We grew the anti-fracking movement over the past three years from a handful of groups to over 280 now (and still growing) - residents across the country have become ACTIVE in the defence of communities - perhaps if those active people were willing to put themselves forward for roles as Councillors or MPs (or actively support those who do)... we could overwhelm the system with our determination and begin to get ownership of our government back. I know there is a bit of 'implied inevitability' about us ending up with a blue or red party in the house... but there was a whole heap of 'implied inevitability' about fracking too and that's not proving a smooth journey for the bad guys.

Anti-frackers could apply their good intent to politics to great effect... hmmm ‪#‎ActivePolitics‬

I don't know anyone who (if they are aware of the truth) wants fracking nor do I know anyone who believes war is the answer to the problems we face and yet our government is currently pursuing both with a fervor and doing so in the name of the British people.

ps...Just thought of an analogy ... I don't want to keep fighting the fire - I want to make sure the bad guys don't control the matches.

Saturday, 20 September 2014

In earlier days when less was known about unconventional energy techniques like 'fracking' and few were aware there was threat to notice, our local Residents' Action on Fylde Fracking﻿ and the few other groups across the country, were holding public meetings anywhere and everywhere possible.

It was an awful thing to do,
Truly awful

You would take a room of blissfully unaware but curious people who were wondering
…and then you gave them the facts of the processes involved in fracking and there would be silence, then there would be disbelief and at last, anger.

I referred to what we were doing as the bringing of the ‘Unwelcome Gift’

We only brought truth
But once you knew it
Once you realised the implications
You couldn’t UNknow it
You couldn’t walk away and pretend it was probably going to be ok really

The risks were too obvious once you knew the how and the who of this
And so there you had it… the gift of truth and knowledge
And no-one was going to feel like thanking you for it

I see the beautiful faces of everyone who became active along the way… amidst ever growing crowds of those who continue to receive the unwelcome gift and swell our numbers.

I see them apparently tireless at event after event
But it isn’t really a tirelessness that keeps us going

We ARE tired – pretty near exhaustion at times
But we are driven by a force more powerful than anything else on earth

--We are protecting our young--

…and when that’s what you’re doing – there is no way to stop, no exit door and no end until the threat ceases to be.

It will have impact on us and on those who need to feel the solidarity and sense the growth of awareness... and as it's coming up to election time - even those in politics are going to have to pay attention. #PeoplesClimate

Friday, 29 August 2014

Ahead
of a High Court appearance in Manchester that lead to a temporary injunction on
anti-fracking campaigners from occupying a field in Lancashire, the ‘Nanas’
received a message of support from Michael Mansfield QC:“You have the spirit
You have the courage
You lead the way
We are all guardians of our planet and some of us show the rest that action
speaks louder than words.
Before its too late.
You represent the human conscience
And I will sit with you today albeit some distance down the M62 engaged
elsewhere!”
MICHAEL MANSFIELD

Today’s appearance in court saw the Nanas and their Solicitor Simon Pook face a six plus
Cuadrilla legal team at the first hearing of the case brought by Cuadrilla and
named landowners for possession of the field under consideration for shale gas
development and various claims for
damages. Simon Pook informed the Judge that the site had already been vacated
by the Nanas. Further the Nanas and their legal team required time to
assimilate the details of the charges against them. The Judge subsequently
decided after much careful deliberation which lasted most of the day, that the
Nanas did indeed need more time to look at evidence. Most of it was
addressed to persons unknown ranging from people on social media to named
groups of unknown persons, meaning THE
WORLD!

Documents
stated that a total of 10 landowners were seeking injunction and three of them
from one family seeking possession against the campaigners, who had vacated the
site after the three week occupation. The Judge ruled that only the landowners
of the occupied field would be granted a possession order as a matter of
formality as the field had already been vacated and a temporary injunction
would be in place until the date of the next hearing on October 8th
2014.

Cuadrilla’s
other demands were refused due to significant concerns that they
disproportionately infringed Human Rights.

Campaigners,
primarily consisting of parents and grandparents from Lancashire stated there
had been insufficient time to understand the documents as they were served just
before the bank holiday. The application
in parts was oppressive and infringed significant Human Rights. Campaigners
had been camped on a field in Little Plumpton that is currently under planning
consideration for development of access roads and a drill pad where energy firm
Cuadrilla hopes to exploit shale gas.

A group of
fifty supporters gathered outside the Court to cheer on the Nanas.

Julie Daniels one of the ‘Nanas’ and a resident of
Blackpool where Cuadrilla aims to extract shale gas said:

“We are happy
that the Judge granted the adjournment we requested as it provides the time required to look more closely into
the claims made in documents presented to the court. The 10 Claimants turned
out to be three families listed individually but from only three addresses, a
clear ploy by Cuadrilla’s team to try to make it appear that there was more
opposition than really existed.

“We know from visiting neighbours, seeing signs
objecting to fracking on so many properties and by the noise from the cars that
beeped their horns in support of our action that villagers are deeply
distressed about Cuadrilla’s plans. Three weeks of Nanas and tent pegs is a
very minor inconvenience especially when compared to what this landowner and
Cuadrilla have planned; industrialisation of the fields, constant noise and
traffic, illumination, risks to air and water quality, increased seismicity, potential
harm to the health of people, pets and livestock nearby and much more.

If
Cuadrilla’s applications[1] were to be successful, it would see the Fylde
Peninsula host the largest UK fracking tests to date. Each of the sites require
2 years of works, 20,000 truck movements, the use of 9 million gallons of water
per well and the production of 5.6 million gallons of radioactive waste[2].

The applications are on-course for being
the most unpopular in British planning history with 14,000 objections already
registered with weeks to go until the consultation process ends[3]

We did this knowing that we would be occupying a field that was currently under a planning application for access roads to facilitate Cuadrilla's proposed shale gas operation. I suppose we also knew there was a chance this would end up in court at some point... that point starts tomorrow at Manchester High Court.

-We wanted to ensure opposition was clearly apparent BEFORE planning applications are granted - so that the Council and investors in the shale gas industry, would realise that this is what is happening before the drill tried to touch soil... should that drill come, then this trickle will become a flood.

-We wanted to ensure that neighbours were well aware of how close they lived to a bothersome site - our presence alerted many initially through concern and then to realisation - that if they were worried about the impact of Nanas and others in a field for three weeks - what the hell would it be like with a full fracking operation for years?

We did what we set out to do... raise local awareness of the location defined in planning and engaged with so very many supporters... plus let Cuadrilla know they will at EVERY stage be challenged.

We hope too that we can grow what we started and that more *Nanas (*type of person who cares for future generations... more a Nana-Type person than an age or gender thing as clearly and beautifully shown by Nana-Fluffy ) will also make a stand in their communities.

Today we said our goodbye to the field on Preston New Road at PR4 3PE - where countless cars beeped support (and must have so irked the land owner), where my great-nephew learned to ride a bike, where mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles and others, became ever more determined to protect this precious community (and others) from the intrusion, danger and massive impact of a shale gas operation.

A lovely man from nearby was helping us ensure the field was shiny and clean yesterday and said what good work we had done but that in the end we are up against the government and big business... indicating they were powerful adversaries. I reminded him that there is NOTHING in nature more powerfully determined and unstoppable as a mother protecting her young.